by Mika » 16 May 2021, 14:35 The widely held notion puts mothers at the forefront of parenting duties. It is true that childbirth and breastfeeding give a mother an edge over a father when it comes to parenting, however, this does not mean dads do not have anything to do in parenting their kids. Actually, dads have a very special role, and they can teach a lot of things to their kids.
If you are a new parent or soon to become a parent and you are looking for inspiration, here are a few parenting tips that you might find useful, whether you are a father or a mother.
Have a high opinion about your kid: You should always have high opinions about your child. When you have high expectations, your kid will become more confident. Your role as a dad is to encourage your child to perform better in schools, sports, and other competitions.
Dads can teach survival skills: Mothers maybe be good at teaching kids how to make the bed, but only dads can teach how to survive the wilderness. Dads can teach about bugs, animals, survival skills, etc. Every moment, life brings surprises, you will never know what will come next. Therefore, your role as a dad is to make your child ready for various kinds of circumstances, for instance, you can teach them what they can do when earthquakes come, or when stranger approaches etc.
Don’t be bossy: Never boss on your child, never judge the child from an ivory tower. Sit next to your child and try to understand his mind, thoughts, and actions.
When you respect your child, your child will respect you: You may want to debate on this but it is true that our society is basically a patriarchal society, where dads have a higher position in the family. Due to this privilege dads have, they are always seeking respect from their kids. There is nothing wrong with this desire, however, in order to get respect, you need to show respect. Love and respect are a two-way process. If you love and respect your kid, he/she will certainly love and respect you.
Give them autonomy: Whether you have noticed this or not, however, when it comes to confiding something, children will always trust their mothers. That’s because they see mothers as friends, whereas dads are the boss in the family. In order to break this chain, dads should give autonomy to their children. Giving autonomy means allowing the kid to make decisions for himself, and explore his distinct personality and individuality. You gave birth to your child does not mean you are the owner of your child. You need to treat them like a person. Kids are not materials to be possessed, they are distinct personalities. They want respect, they don’t want to be taken for granted, they want to be understood, and they want to be heard.
Spend quality time: Most of the dads believe that their role is just t provide the necessity for the kids (food, clothes, education, etc.). Well, dads need to provide these things, but once you provide these things, your role does not end. You cannot wash your hands from parenting duties just because you are the breadwinner. Your kids want your time, they want to hang out with you, they want you to play with them.
